Where do you get your 24/192 music, and what software do you use?

The SBT only works up to 96/24.

First of all you will need to install Logitech Media Server. But I suppose you already have that. I cannot recommend any other software as I don't have a Mac.

Good sites to down load from are Highresaudio, HDTRacks (depending on where you live), Musicload, Linn Records, Naim, MapleMusic; just to name a few

Thanks for the advice on websites PinkHamster. Regarding the SBT there is a 3rd party app that enhences the output to play 24/192 though

Logitech Media Server will play 24/192 files through a Touch fine, they just get downsampled to 24/96 before being sent to the Touch. I think the 3rd party app that you mention is Triodes EDO app, which allows the SBT to send 24/196 from it's USB port, so this would only be any use if you have an asynchronous USB Dac.

Bonjour Louis-André,

As you live in France, Qobuz (qobuz dot com) is a place you should have a look at. They sell 24 bits albums called Studio Masters. Today is jazz sales day, with a selection of Studio Masters at 15% discount and one album at 25%. All other Studio Masters are -10% till tomorrow.

A few words of caution though.

First, Qobuz have a lot of 24/44.1. Though there seems to be a consensus that bit depth brings more improvement than sample rate (if taken in isolation), I'm still wondering if it's the new scam to sell the same album once again at a higher bit rate later on.

Second, Qobuz have a strange "award" of their own called Studio Masters Garantie. They give this distinction when they have verified that it is a true high resolution album (remember the HDtracks scandal ?). So at present you can find Studio Masters that are "guaranteed" as being so, and some that are not. What these are is anyone's guess...

Third, you can find all albums from the Naim Label at Qobuz, even at a cheaper price sometimes. If you ever intend to use a Naim server in the future, be cautious that Qobuz probably won't provide (I think -- better check for yourself) the additional metadata the Naim servers take advantage of, and that you get if you buy albums directly from the Naim Label.

HTH et bonne chasse !

Maurice

HDTracks

Of course, it's worth remembering that 24/192 can still be not very good quality, depending on the source files. Plenty of customers of the likes of HDTracks et al have found that out.

Absolutely js, the same story all over again. And again. And...

Hello Louis-André, 

Actually one 3rd party app (Enhanced Digital Output) is not limited only to the USB output for the SBT, but for all the digital outputs. 

Jobseeker makes the best point though, it's the source files that matter most in all of this. The majority of my 24/192 files can be bettered by CD rips (16/44). Some of the vinyl rips out there are 24/192 and can be amazing. HDTracks does not have the best track record, you can Google to find out. Even Linn was singled out for claiming higher bitrates for files. That being said, a few Linn samples I've heard are quite good. In December, they had a free file everyday for a few weeks. Did you get those?

Arun

Thanks to you all.

I am really new to all of this, and I must be doing something wrong, because I have installed Logitech Media Server into my Mac (I also downloaded Logitech controller on my Ipad), and while it allows me to go to INternet radio and into Spotify, I do not see any tab in this program to stream the music I have on computer (Itunes). 

But I also heard that we cannot download 24/192 music via Itunes, so my question remain:

-what streaming software works with the Squeezebox Touch with 24/192 music downloads?

I guess I am missing a software of have dine something wrong in the instalation?

for example, Qobuz woudl have seemed a good solution as it gives good access to 24bits music downloads, but apparently it is not supported by the Squeezebox?

At the end of the day, I would want only one software to manage all my music, and i woudl want this software to be compatible with Squeezebox, without limitations on music formats (i.e including studio master quality).

Any help is really appreciated as I feel a bit dumb not finding a solution

the difference with high res is there, in some cases not a lot. in reality too few too expensive.   some cds are selling at good prices so they are better value now. audio COMPANIIES  should be talking to the downloads sites to encourage more downloads

Rich, I agree, I have been somewhat surprised at the lack of proper download media, I'd have expected the market to have developed by now. For most people now it appears downloads are synonymous with lossy files with mediocre quality from iTunes, and if you are fussed about audio quality then you need to buy 'physical' music..

So thank goodness for the most part CD has huge capability. I am still impressed by the breathtaking performances you can sometimes get from CD... And the choice and price is now better than ever.. Its around 4 CDs a week for me on average and I love it...

I used to get my 96 and 192 from HD Tracks before they introduced the IP block for a large part of their catalogue. Today I checked them for something and found they would supply what I was after. Since I last ordered something from HD Tracks they have introduced a super duper new download manager - which doesn't work on any of my PCs!

So while waiting for HD Tracks to resolve this POS I went off to DG to download something else. They took my money but said there were unable to process the order. So that's two dispute resolutions underway shortly if I don't get what I paid for.

B&W SOS couldn't make it more simple. What a pity their catalogue is so limited. Linn are overpriced, charging an £8 premium over something I bought on DVD and ripped myself. 

From a personal POV the HiRes universe is offering a lower level of service to consumers now than one to two years back. Thank goodness for CD.

I get my HD files from HDtracks and B&W Society of Sound (to which I subscribe).

The stuff from SOS almost always sounds great... although there isn't much selection that suits my taste there. The HD tracks is a mixed bag. I generally go to a computeraudiophile.com to read HDtracks reviews before purchasing, as some of the stuff on there isn't much of an upgrade to the 16 bit equivalent. Caveat emptor definately applies there... so do your research. The well mastered stuff sounds great though.